MovieChat Forums > Pumpkinhead (1989) Discussion > the landscape around the Harley store

the landscape around the Harley store

posted 9 years ago by tommix42
9 replies | jump to latest

I really like this movie. I'm a big Lance Henriksen fan, I liked the whole Appalachian folklore vibe of this movie, and I thought the witch and the monster were both amazing (in different ways, of course).

But, I wish they found a better location, for that scene with hilly landscape around the general store. It was just WAY too obvious that it was California. Was that seriously the best place they could find, to film a scene that was supposed to be set in West Virginia, or... or... wherever it was supposed to be?!?! I guess I could imagine this story happening in the Ozarks, or possibly rural Tennessee or Arkansas, but none of those places look ANYTHING like the landscape around that store, do they?!?!

Maybe I shouldn't talk, because I haven't done enough traveling to be absolutely SURE that I am correct. But, I have been to California, and that landscape looked like California to me.

For Grave Encounters... I'm Lance Preston.

[–] BouncyX 9 years ago

its indeed california, on the blu-ray extras they mentioned some scenes were filmed behind magic mountain and they sometimes had to wait til late to film cuz of the noise.

[–] Vashramana 9 years ago

Incorrect geography is a huge pet peeve of mine as well.

[–] dangus 8 years ago

It's as bad as the TV show Justified, which even showed sagebrush country once or twice. There must be more convincing locations in WA or BC they could've used.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

The sandy terrain around the store is one of the reasons why I've always thought that that the film was set in the Ozarks, not the Appalachians. Get down around Southern Missouri/Northern Arkansas, and you will find stretches of sandy scrubland, as well as thick forests and foggy marshes. The accents match the Ozarks, as well. I've always considered that it was supposed to be Arkansas, even if it was filmed in California.

- Oh, SOMEbody asides me is gonna RUE this here particular day...

[–] tommix42 8 years ago

Thanks for making this observation! I have never been to that part of the country, I guess I should not assume that it looks unlike the scenery in Pumpkinhead. I have seen the 2010 Jennifer Lawrence movie Winter's Bone, and that was filmed somewhere in the Ozarks... I'll have to watch it again sometime, and see if I notice scenery that looks like it could be in Pumpkinhead.

For Grave Encounters... I'm Lance Preston.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

I've been visiting the Ozarks since before I was old enough to remember (40-some years), so I'm fairly familiar with the terrain. I'm from the Kansas City area, and the scenic Ozarks make a nice weekend trip, especially in the Fall. There are TONS of caves down in the region, ranging from little stone overhangs by rivers to beautiful caverns that take HOURS to go through.

There was even a monster movie filmed down there - one of the worst EVER made: 'It's Alive!' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063145/?ref_=wl_li_tt, filmed at Onyx Cave near Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

- Oh, SOMEbody asides me is gonna RUE this here particular day...

[–] Finchered 8 years ago

I would have to agree with you Drunk. I am from the Ozarks and always enjoy this time of the year because of the look and temperature outside. Makes it perfect to watch classics like Pumpkinhead.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

Up until now, I honestly hadn't reflected upon the subject, but the Ozarks contain a remarkable range of terrain features. Pine forests, oak scrub, sand belts, rich plains and river deltas, and of course, those beautiful clear rivers, like the Niangua and the White.

But I will never forgive the damned Arkansas Ozarks for the late Fall night that I spent driving down Highway 71 in our '90 Mercury Sable, 20-odd years ago. Up and down those hills, every change in elevation meant having to change the defogger/AC/vent to keep the inside of the windows clean...and I swear I put more mileage on the steering wheel than I put on the tires, that night.

It was eight hours before I could unbend my fingers, after finishing THAT drive.

- Oh, SOMEbody asides me is gonna RUE this here particular day...

[–] AlexJohan (390) 4 years ago

California beats Romania, Bulgaria & Serbia any day of the week!